Developing and mature oligodendrocytes respond differently to the immune cytokine interferon-gamma
✍ Scribed by Kristine D. Baerwald; Brian Popko
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1998
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 517 KB
- Volume
- 52
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0360-4012
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Increasing evidence suggests that the immune cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plays a deleterious role in immune-mediated demyelinating disorders. To further understand the effects of IFN-gamma on oligodendrocytes, we have compared and quantitated the response of developing and mature oligodendrocytes in vitro to IFN-gamma and have observed several differences. Morphological changes and cell death occurred in developing cultures after 2 days in IFN-gamma, and in mature oligodendrocytes after 4-7 days. Developing oligodendrocytes underwent significantly increased apoptotic cell death in the presence of IFN-gamma, but mature oligodendrocytes exposed to IFN-gamma died of necrosis. Prior to morphological changes or cell death in mature oligodendrocytes exposed to IFN-gamma, steady-state levels of myelin-specific mRNAs and proteins were reduced. Thus, these results indicate that the sensitivity of oligodendrocytes to IFN-gamma is related to the developmental state of the cell. Such information is crucial for understanding the response of oligodendrocytes in immune-mediated demyelinating disorders and during remyelination in these diseases.